Scarborough dumped snakes prompt opening of reptile rescue centre

Dave Bigsby was working as a handyman at Sea Life in Scarborough when he first came up with the idea for a rescue centre

A man has set up a reptile rescue centre in Scarborough after "despairing" at the number of pets being dumped in the town.

Dave Bigsby said in just one week over the Christmas period he was called to 12 abandoned snakes and since then "it's just been non-stop".

He said he believed jumps in the cost of food and utilities were to blame.

Evie Button from the RSPCA said many people were "unaware of how much of a commitment exotic pets are".

Mr Bigsby blamed the cost of living crisis for the increase in animal abandonments

Mr Bigsby, 50, said he initially thought about starting a reptile rescue centre following the death of a red tailed boa constrictor called Lilly, which he had taken in.

"I made her a promise that I'd save as many of her friends as I could and here we are."

Mr Bigsby said his first reptile rescue in the town was in 2022 and had involved "two royal pythons dumped in a dustbin outside a local school."

"Since then its just been non-stop," he added.

Due to the number of animals rescued recently, Mr Bigsby said he was spending up to £200 each week on heating costs and £80 in food for the creatures in his care.

He told BBC Radio York: "In just one week I had to go out and rescue 12 snakes and bring them back to the warm, so a rescue centre is definitely called for in the area."

Lilly's Reptile Rescue Centre is set to open on Victoria Road on 14 February.

Mr Bigsby said its aim would be to try and "rehome whatever we rescue for a voluntary donation".

"We'll also sell reptile accessories and the profits from that will go back into the shop. We're a not-for-profit organisation," he added.

As well as starting up the reptile rescue centre Mr Bigsby has begun going into schools to give talks on the creatures

He said he had set up an online fundraiser and was hoping to attract sponsorship for the venture.

"Every penny I bring in will go back to the reptiles themselves," he added.

Incidents of animal abandonment are at a three-year high according to the RSPCA.

Up to the end of December 2023, the charity said it had received 448 incident reports to its emergency line about abandoned animals in North Yorkshire.

An RSPCA spokesperson said the combined effects of the pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis had "created a perfect storm".